Resident fed up with graffiti commissions mural

Rachel Hobbs-Harding said the repeated graffiti incidents made her feel "unsettled"

A resident who was “fed up” after her outer garden wall was repeatedly vandalised, commissioned an artist to create a new mural.

Rachel Hobbs-Harding, 46, has lived in her home in Paston, Peterborough, for nearly two years.

Six months after moving into her new home on Seymour Place, she claimed her garden wall, which overlooks a footpath, was targeted with graffiti - an experience she said “nearly moved her to tears”.

Ms Harding has now asked Nathan Murdoch, from Street Arts Hire, to put a design on the wall to "create a positive environment” and deter more unsolicited spraying.

The garden wall has been targeted about five times over the past year

Ms Hobbs-Harding said she moved into her new home after a “stressful time in life” and had hoped to settle down and enjoy her new start.

"But six months into my new house, I woke up one day and saw this graffiti," she said.

"I just couldn’t believe it. I have found it very unsettling. I have had at least four or five graffiti artists tag my wall in the last year/year and a half. I was absolutely frustrated."

She said she approached different companies to get it cleaned but was quoted around £400-£500.

She added: “I thought if I have to spend the money I might as well commission an artwork."

Nathan Murdoch from Street Arts Hire expected to start the artwork in Paston over the next few days

Mr Murdoch said he was given "free rein" on the mural and would be creating a colourful owl on the wall over the next few days.

He said he had carried out similar projects around the city before.

“As a street artist myself I look at graffiti differently to other people - perhaps not as vandalism," he said.

"But I understand private spaces should be respected."

Ms Hobbs-Harding said she was “extremely grateful” to Street Arts Hire for coming on board and doing the work without a charge.

"The wall can be seen from the main road actually, so I hope the artwork will make it [the street] presentable,” she said.